University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross on Tuesday asked the Legislature's budget-writing committee to approve a new public authority for the UW System, a "dedicated and stable funding stream" and to reduce the governor's proposed $300 million budget cut over the next two years.

Shortly after he finished his testimony, a handful of protesters burst into the room shouting, "No cuts, no deals." Followed by four Capitol police officers, the protesters marched past the table where Cross was sitting to give testimony before the Joint Committee on Finance.

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp. and has to reimburse the company, Koss Chief Executive Michael Koss should also be ordered to personally pay the public company he runs, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

Grant Thornton, Koss Corp.'s former auditor, should also have to pay a portion of any award that may be ordered, Park Bank argued in the latest twist in a long-running court fight stemming from Sachdeva's massive embezzlement.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," the bank said in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss, in this case, those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(7)

Doyle approval rating 45%, but some budget items backed

Madison -- A new statewide poll by St. Norbert College puts Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's approval rating at 45% -- the first time it has dropped below 50% since the college started polling on him in September 2003, which was eight months after he took office.

In the new poll, 45% called themselves satisfied with how the governor is doing that job and 54% said they were dissatisfied with Doyle, who is expected to seek a third term next year. The remainder had no opinion.

The last St. Norbert poll, released in September, estimated the governor's approval rating at 59%.

The April 1-9 telephone poll of 400 Wisconsin respondents had a margin of error of 5%, St. Norbert officials said.

But the poll also showed solid support for these four specific proposals in Doyle's 2009-'11 budget, which the Legislature is now debating and hopes to pass by July 1:

*By a 67%-28% margin, those polled favored Doyle's proposal to create a top income tax bracket for joint filers with taxable incomes of $300,000 or more, and single filers with taxable incomes of $225,000 or more. The increase would cost those taxpayers, who make up less than 1% of all tax filers, about $311 million over the next two years.

*By a 68%-27% margin, respondents favored the provision in the governor's budget freezing the pay of state workers to help fix an estimated $5-billion budget deficit.

*By a 60%-33% margin, those surveyed liked Doyle's plan to let same-sex couples register with local officials to be able to get certain legal protections now available only to heterosexual couples.

*By a 66%-32% margin, respondents favored Doyle's proposed workplace smoking ban, which is opposed by the Tavern League of Wisconsin.

Overall, 28% said they approved of Doyle's overall two-year budget proposal, which spends more than $3 billion in federal stimulus cash and includes about $1.7 billion in tax and fee increases.

Doyle was at a ground-breaking ceremony for a new building on the UW-Superior campus.

In a statement, Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner said:

"I’m sure we’ll see all kinds of polls that show all kinds of things as the election season gets closer. But what matters right now is getting our economy back on track. Gov. Doyle has been working at the highest levels to make sure we take steps that are open and accountable and that produce results.

"That’s what Gov. Doyle is focused on – making the right strategic investments that will improve our infrastructure and make Wisconsin a cleaner, healthier and safer place to live."

In the new poll, 46% said the Legislature was doing a satisfactory job, and 50% disliked its performance. And, by a 55%-39% margin, those who answered the poll said they felt the state was going in the wrong direction.